Multiple pivoted ratcheting jaw wrench



Sept. 11, 11956 F. sosA 2,762,249

MULTIPLE PIVOTED RATCHETING JAW WRENCH Filed Dec. 8, 1955 United The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the United States Government for governmental purposes without payment to me of any royalty thereon. I

This invention relates to wrenches and, more particularly, to an end wrench of the ratchet type having movable jaws adapted to engage a nut or a similarly shaped fitting.

Ratcheting end wrenches are widely used to tighten nuts or similar fittings mounted in relatively inaccessible locations. V/hen the jaws of these wrenches contact work such as a hexagonal nut or bolt, force applied to the handle of the wrench in one direction moves the jaws in a direction to grip the work for purposes of adjustment. Force applied to the handle of the wrench in the opposite direction separate the jaws of the wrench sufficiently far to permit them to slide around the corners of the work and allows the wrench to grip the work in another position for further adjustment. Ratcheting end wrenches of the past have not been entirely satisfactory because of the high cost of production and inconvenience in use and unsatisfactory clamping action. In addition, either the jaws were not parallel to each other in all operative positions, or if parallel, they were not also parallel to the handle. If the jaws of the wrench are not parallel to each other, the wrench cannot grasp the ,parallel sides of atent" f the work or fitting properly. This causes the corners of 1 the fitting to become rounded off and incapable of further sa'tisfatocry adjustment. Furthermore, even if the jaws are parallel to each other for standard size fittings, they may not be parallel .to each other for off-size work. In addition, fittings are frequently located in positions that require a wrench having jaws substantially parallel to the handle. Therefore, a principal object of this invention is devised a ratcheting end wrench having widespread utility in which the jaws are substantially parallel to each otherand to the handle in all operative positions.

An additional object of this invention is to devise a ratcheting wrench that can grip off-size fittings with the jaws of-the wrench held parallel to each other and to plane surfaces on the fitting.

A further object of this invention is to devise a ratcheting end wrench of simple design and rugged construction having few parts and capable of being readily taken apart for purposes of replacement and repair.

The above and other objects of this invention will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein;

Fig. l is a side elevational view of the wrench.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the wrench taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows and showing the internal arrangement of the parts.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the lower or first jaw of the wrench.

7 Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the lower or first aw of the wrench.

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the upper or second jaw of the wrench.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the upper or second jaw of the wrench.

Referring now to Fig. l of the drawing, the ratcheting wrench indicated generally at 10 comprises a straight handle '11, a first jaw 12, and a second jaw 13. Handle 11 has a bifurcated end 17 (see Fig. 2) and the jaws 12 and 13 are pivotally mounted between the sides 16 of the forked end 17 by means of pivot pins 14 and 15 which extend through the sides of the bifurcated end and through the pivot pin receiving holes 23 and 28 in jaws 12 and 13. Jaws 12 and 13 are interlocked together by means of a projection 20 and a guide surface 19 on jaw 12, and a recess 24 and guide surface 26 on jaw 13. The jaws are positioned so guide surfaces 19 and 26 on jaws 12 aid 13 are it sliding contact with each other constraining the jaws to move only. in one direction relative to each other. Projection 20 on jaw 12 extends in the direction of motion of the jaws and loosely projects into the recess 2 on jaw 13 to permit only a slight pivotal movement of the jaws relative to each other for purposes to be described below; In addition, this arrangement holds the jaws together when they engage the work and force is ap plied to the wrench handle in a direction to grip the work for purposes of adjustment. 'In assembled relation jaw 12 has a plane gripping surface 18 substantially parallel to a' plane gripping-surfaceZS ion jaw 13. Guide surfaces 19 and 26 and projection 20 in recess 24 constrain jaws 12 and 13 to move only in a direction that maintains gripping surfaces 18 and 25 in spaced substantially parallel relation to each other. In addition, 'thepivotal connection between the jaws and the handle, as shown in Figs. 1 andZ, keeps the plane gripping surfaces of the jaws substantially parallel to thehandle.

The wrench includes jaw locking means to lock the gripping surfaces 13 and '25 on jaws 12 and 13 in spaced parallel relationship when "the 'jaws are in contact with the work and force is applied to the handle of the wrench in the direction tojgrip thework. This jaw locking means comprises a ledge 21 outcropping from guide surface 19 on jaw 12. This ledge 21is designed to engage a shelf 27 in guide surface 26 on jaw 13., see Figs. 4and 6. An a'rcua'te spring 29 has imurned edges which penetrate holes 22 and 30 in jaws 1 2'and 13, see Figs. 3 and '5. The tension of the spring holds it inposition on the jaws. Spring '29 .serves to bias the jaws together and to cant the jaws slightly so ledge 21 is not in contact with the shelf 27 .unless the jaws contact the work and force is exerted on the handle of the wrench in .a direction to grip the work. Under "these conditions abutment surfaces 31 on jaw 12 and'32 onjaw 13 engage each other and maintain a minimum spacing between the plane gripping surfaces of the jaws. V

'In operation, the gripping surfaces of the wrench are put in contact with the correspondingly sized fitting to be adjusted. If a clockwise force is exerted on the handle 11 of the wrench 10, see Fig. 1, the jaws 12 and 13 will first pivot slightly so ledge 21 engages shelf 27. This enables the jaws of the wrench to grip the work and positively locks the jaws of the wrench in a position where the gripping surfaces of the jaws ofthe wrench are exactly parallel to each other and substantially parallel to the handle. When this force on the handle is released, the action of spring 29 pivots the jaw 12 slightly so ledge 21 moves out of engagement with shelf 27 permitting the jaws to be separated. Then, if a counterclockwise force is exerted on the handle, the gripping surfaces of the jaws can move apart. As soon as the jaws separate 0 far enough, the wrench can slide around the corners of the fitting and move into a position permitting further adjustment of the fitting.

It is to be noted that even if the fitting is slightly off size,'the jaws can be separatedfarenough to grip the fitting, and the gripping surfaces of the jaws will be substantiallyparallel to eachother. and to-the plane surfaces of the fitting. This eliminates'the usual rounding 'of the corners of the fittings when the fitting and the wrench socket are not the same size. I

'Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be securedby Letters Patent is:

1. A multiple pivoted ratcheting jaw wrench comprising spaced movable first and second jaws and an elongated handle, means connecting said jaws to the handle, gripping surfaces on each jaw, interlocking means on said jaws holding them together and constraining them to move only in a directionthat maintains said gripping surfaces in substantially parallel relationship to each other and to the longitudinal of the handle, said means connectingsaid: jaws to the handle comprising two pivot pins on said handle spaced apart, each pivot pin pivotally supportingbne of said jaws" so that when the jaws of the wrench are in contact with the work, force applied to the handleinone direction increases the separation between the jaws,.'f'and force applied to the handle in the opposite direction moves the jaws in a direction to grip the work. j I

2. A multiple pivoted ratcheting jaw wrench comprising spaced movable first and second jaws and a handle, means connecting said jaws to the handle, gripping surfaces on each jaw, interlocking means on said jaws holding thern together and constraining them to move only in a direction that maintains said gripping surfaces in a substantially parallel relationship to each other and to the handle, saidtmeans connecting the jaws to the handle comprising two pivot pins on said handle spaced apart, each pivot pin pivotally supporting one of said jaws so that when the jaws of the wrench are in contact with the work, force applied to the handle in, one direction increases the separation between the jaws, and force applied to the handle in the oppositefdirection'moves the jaws in a direction to grip the work, said interlocking means on saidjaws comprises aprojection and a guide surface on said first jaw, said'projection extending substantially in the direction of motion ofthe jaws, ,a complementary recess and guide surface on said second jaw, said guide surfaces, on said jaws being in sliding contact with each other to constrain said jaws to move only in a direction that maintains said gripping surfaces in substantially parallel relationship to each other and to the handle, said projection penetrating said recess to hold said jaws together when the jaws are in contact with the work and force is applied to the handle of the wrench in the direction to grip the work.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 including jaw locking means to lock the gripping surfaces on said jaws in spaced parallel relationship when the jaws are in contact with the work and force'is applied to the handle of the wrench in a direction to grip the work.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said jaw locking means comprises substantially parallel plane abutment surfaces on each jaw, a shelf on the guide surand so the plane abutment surfaces on each jaw are in abutting contact with each other to lock the jaws against further pivotal movement when the jaws of the Wrench are in contact with the work and force is applied to the handle of the wrench in a direction to grip the work.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 4 including biasing means on the jaws to pivot the jaws so the shelf and ledge on the guide surfaces of the jaws are out of engagement with each other unless the jaws are in-contact with the work and force is applied to the handle of the wrench in a direction to cause the jaws to grip the work.

6. A multiple pivoted ratcheting jaw wrench comprising spaced movable. first and second jaws and a handle, means connecting said jaws to the handle, a guide surface on one jaw in sliding engagement with a guide surface on the other jaw to permit the jaws to move relative to each other, said means connecting said jaws to the handle comprising two pivot pins on the handles spaced apart, each pivot pin pivotally supporting one of said jaws so that when the jaws of the wrench are in contact with the work, force applied to the handle in one direction separates the, jaws and force applied to'the handle in the opposite direction moves the jaws in the direction to grip the work, means on the jaws to lock the jaws in opcrat ing position, said means comprising abutment surfaces on each jaw, a shelf on the guide surface of one jaw and a ledge on the guide surface of the other jaw, said shelf engaging said ledge to pivot the jaws until they move in operating position and until the abutment surfaces on each jaw move in abutting contact with each other to lock the jaws against further. pivotal movement, when the jaws of the wrench are in contact with the work and force is applied to the handle of the wrench in a direction to grip the work. t

7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 6 including a biasing means on the jaws to pivot the jaws so the shelf and ledge on the guide surfaces of the jaws are out of engagement with each other unless the jaws are in contact with the work and forceis applied to the handle of the wrench in a direction to cause the jaws to grip the work. Y

References Cited in the file of this patent g UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,183,371 Ginsberg May 16, 1916 r 1,335,028 Renftle Mar. 30, 1920 1,924,393 Beery Aug. 29, 1933 2,706,923 Kvaerne Apr. 26, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 28,754 Sweden Apr. 23, 1910 449,510 Germany Sept. 20, 1927 

